Superman: The Movie

Lex Luthor

• This is Lex Luthor. Only one thing alive with less than four legs can hear this frequency, Superman, and that's you. In approximately five minutes, a poison gas pellet containing propane lithium compound will be released through thousands of air ducts in the city, effectively annihilating half the population of Metropolis.

• Told ya. That's Kryptonite, Superman. Little souvenir from the old home town. I spared no expense to make you feel right at home.

• [after he's explained how a meteor from Krypton can kill Superman] Doesn't it give you kind of a, a, a... shudder... of electricity through you to be in the same room with me?

• MISS TESCHMACHER!

• We all have our little faults. Mine's in California.

• [to Otis] Do you know why the number two hundred is so vitally descriptive to both you and me? It's your weight and my I.Q.

• [Watching Otis approaching the hideout] It's amazing that brain can generate enough power to keep those legs moving.

• You were followed again. [Otis spins around, knocking over a lamp]...in spite of those catlike reflexes.

• Miss Teschmacher, some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it's a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapper and unlock the secrets of the universe.

• You were great in your day, Superman. But it just stands to reason, when it came time to cash in your chips, this old... diseased... maniac would be your banker.

• There's a strong streak of good in you, Superman. But then nobody's perfect... almost nobody.

Superman

• [A cat burglar is climbing up the side of a building. He looks up and sees Superman standing there] Hi there. Something wrong with the elevator?

• [Superman lands holding a cat burglar] Officer! They say confession's good for the soul.[takes a handful of stolen jewelry out of the burglar's bag] I'd listen to this man.

Perry White

• Now look. The Post: "It Flies." The News: "Look, Ma, No Wires." The Times: "Blue Bomb Buzzes Metropolis." The Planet. We're sitting on top of the story of the century here! I want the name of this flying whatchamacallit to go with the Daily Planet like bacon and eggs, franks and beans, death and taxes, politics and corruption.

• Lois, Clark Kent may seem like just a mild-mannered reporter, but listen, not only does he know how to treat his editor-in-chief with the proper respect, not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose style, but he is, in my forty years in this business, the fastest typist I've ever seen.

• Now listen to me! I tell you, boys and girls - whichever one of you gets it out of him... is going to wind up with the single most important interview since... God talked to Moses!

Lois Lane

• [Interviewing Superman] How big are you... um... how tall are you?

• Can you read my mind? Do you know what it is that you do to me? I don't know who you are. Just a friend from another star. Here I am, like a kid out of school. Holding hands with a god. I'm a fool. Will you look at me? Quivering. Like a little girl, shivering. You can see right through me. Can you read my mind? Can you picture the things I'm thinking of? Wondering why you are... all the wonderful things you are. You can fly. You belong in the sky. And I... could belong to each other. If you need a friend... I'm the one to fly to. If you need to be loved... here I am. Read my mind.

General Zod

• Join us. You have been known to disagree with the Council before. Yours could become an important voice in the new order, second only to my own! I offer you a chance for greatness, Jor-El, take it! Join us!... You will bow down before me, Jor-El. I swear it, no matter that it takes an eternity! You will bow down before me! Both you and then one day your heirs!

Jor-El

• "This is no fantasy... no careless product of wild imagination. No, my good friends. These indictments that I have brought you today...specific charges listed herein against the individuals...their acts of treason, their ultimate aim of sedition. (Lifts up his crystal staff). These are matters of undeniable fact. I ask you now to pronounce judgment on those accused: on this - this mindless aberration, whose only means of expression are wanton violence and destruction; on the woman Ursa, whose perversions and unreasoning hatred of all mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton. Finally, General Zod - once trusted by this Council, charged with maintaining the defense of the planet Krypton itself - chief architect of this intended revolution, and author of this insidious plot, to establish a "New Order" amongst us - with himself as absolute ruler! You have heard the evidence. The decision of the Council will now be heard.

• You will travel far, my little Kal-El. But we will never leave you... even in the face of our deaths... the richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I've learned, everything I feel... all this, and more... I bequeath you, my son. You will carry me inside you all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, and see my life through your own eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father, and the father becomes the son. This is all I can send you, Kal-El.
  • As he bids his infant son farewell before sending him to Earth

• Your name is Kal-El. You are the only survivor of the planet Krypton. Even though you've been raised as a human being, you are not one of them. You have great powers, only some of which you have as yet discovered.

• Live as one of them, Kal-El, to discover where your strength and your power are needed. Always hold in your heart the pride of your special heritage. They can be a great people, Kal-El, they wish to be. They only lack the light to show the way. For this reason above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son.
  • As Clark discovers his heritage, this is the close of his father's message to him.

Others

• Young Clark Kent: All those things I can do .... all those powers...... and I couldn't even save him.

• Ma Kent: [Last words to Clark] Remember us, son. Always remember us.

• Miss Teschmacher: Why is it I can't get it on with the good guys?

• Desk Sergeant: [on seeing a boat in the middle of the street and Superman flying off] Mooney, first bottle's on me, let me get my hat.

Dialogue

Lois Lane: Any more at home like you?

Clark Kent: Uh, not really, no.

[Miss Teschmacher asks if Superman is real; Lex Luthor says he can't be from this world]

Miss Teschmacher: Why?

Lex Luthor: Because if any human being were going to perpetrate such a fantastic hoax, it would've been me!

Lex Luthor: [pointing to a map of California and the San Andreas Fault] Everything west of this line is the richest, most expensive real estate in the world: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Everything on THIS side of the line is just hundreds and hundreds of miles of worthless desert land, which just so happens to be owned by...

[Whaps Otis with his pointer]

Otis: Uhhh... Lex Luthor Incorporated.

Lex Luthor: Now, call me foolish, call me irresponsible, it occurs to me that a 500 megaton bomb planted at just the proper point would, uh...

Superman: Would destroy most of California. Millions of innocent people would be killed. And the west coast as we know it would-...

Lex Luthor: Fall into the sea. [Gives a little wave with his hand] Bye-bye, California. Hello, new west coast. My west coast.

[Otis overlays map with new map]

Lex Luthor: Costa Del Lex. Luthorville. Marina del Lex. Otisburg... Otisburg?

Otis: Miss Teschmacher, she's got her own place.

Lex Luthor: Otisburg?

Otis: It's a little bitty place.

Lex Luthor: [Angrily] Otisburg?

Otis: Okay, I'll just wipe it off, that's all. Just a little town. [Erases Otisburg]

Superman: Is that how a warped brain like yours gets its kicks? By planning the death of innocent people?

Lex Luthor: No, by causing the death of innocent people.

Clark Kent: Excuse me, Mr. White. I was wondering if, if, uh, perhaps you could arrange for half my salary to be sent to this address on a weekly basis.

Lois Lane: Your bookie, right?

Clark Kent: My what?

Lois Lane: Don't tell me: he sends a check every week to his sweet, grey-haired old mother.

Clark Kent: Actually, she's silver-haired.

Clark Kent: Really, Lois, supposing that man had shot you? Is it worth risking your life over ten dollars, two credit cards, a hairbrush, and a lipstick?

Lois Lane: How did you know that?

Clark Kent: Know what?

Lois Lane: You just described the exact contents of my purse.

Clark Kent: Hmm. Wild guess.

Superman: Easy, miss. I've got you.

Lois Lane: You, you've got me? Who's got you?

[Superman and Lois are standing on opposite sides of a large planter]

Lois Lane: What color underwear am I wearing?

Superman: [looking] Hmmm...

Lois Lane: Oh, I'm sorry, I embarrassed you, didn't I?

Superman: Oh, no, no, no, not at all, Miss Lane, it's just that this planter must be made of lead.

Lois Lane: Uh, yes it is. So?

Superman: Well, you see, I, uh, I sort of have a problem seeing through lead.

Lois Lane: Oh, that's interesting.

Lois Lane: [Writing] 'Problem seeing through lead.' Hmmm. Uh, d-do you have a first name?

Superman: What do you mean, like, uh, Ralph or something?

Lois Lane: No, no, I mean like... [Walks away from the planter]

Superman: Pink.

Lois Lane: Huh?

Superman: Pink.

[Lois walks back to the planter]

Superman: Um, sorry, Miss Lane, I didn't mean to embarrass you.

[Superman breaks down Lex Luthor's door]

Lex Luthor: It's open, come in. My attorney will be in touch with you about the damage to the door. Otis, take the gentleman's cape.

[Otis approaches Superman, who glares at him]

Otis: I don't think he wants me to, Mr. Luthor.

Warden: This country is safe again, Superman, thanks to you.

Superman: No, sir. Don't thank me, Warden. We're all part of the same team. Good night.

Superman: I'm here to fight for truth, and justice, and the American way.

Lois Lane: [Laughs] You're gonna end up fighting every elected official in this country!

[Superman surprises Lois on her balcony]

Lois Lane: Um, um, would you like a glass of wine?

Superman: Uh, no, no thanks. I never drink when I fly.

[Lex stands on his library sliding ladder searching for a book]

Lex Luthor: N... .N.. N...

Otis: 'M'! You want 'M' Mr. Luthor?

[Otis moves the sliding ladder Lex is standing on, leaving Lex hanging from a shelf]

Otis: So, there you go, 'M'.

Lex Luthor: 'M' as in moron Otis? No, no, no, it's 'N'! 'N' as in neanderthal, nincompoop, nitwit and 'L' as in ladder!

Lex Luthor: Otis, is that the newspaper I asked you to get me?

Otis: Yeah.

Lex Luthor: Why am I not reading it?

Otis: [thinks for a second] 'Cause I haven't given it to you yet?

Lex Luthor: [smiles] Right...

[snatches the newspaper from Otis' hand]

First Elder: [following the trial and sentencing of General Zod and "Company"] An unpleasant duty has been masterfully performed, Jor-El. They have received the fate they deserve: isolation in the Phantom Zone, an eternal living death.

Jor-El: A chance for survival, nonetheless... as opposed to us, if we ignore these facts. It's SUICIDE! No, it's worse. It's GENOCIDE...! My friends, you know me to be neither rash nor impulsive. I'm not given to wild, unsupported statements. And I tell you we must evacuate this planet immediately!

Pa Kent: [after Clark has beaten Brad's car to the Kent farmhouse... by running] Been showing off a bit, haven't you, son?

Young Clark Kent: ...Oh, I didn't mean to show off, Pop. It's just that... well, guys like that Brad, I just wanna... well, I know I shouldn't, but...

Pa Kent: I know. You can do all these amazing things, and sometimes you think that you will burst wide open unless you can tell someone about it, don't you?... There's one thing I know for sure, son. And that is, you are here for a reason. I don't know what it is, exactly, but I do know this much: it's not to score touchdowns.

Taglines

• You'll Believe a Man Can Fly!

• The movie that makes a legend come to life.

Cast

• Christopher Reeve - Clark Kent/Superman
• Margot Kidder - Lois Lane
• Gene Hackman - Lex Luthor
• Ned Beatty - Otis
• Marlon Brando - Jor-El
• Jackie Cooper - Perry White
• Terance Stamp - General Zod
• Glenn Ford - Pa Kent
• Phyllis Thaxter - Ma Kent

External links

• Superman: The Movie quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Superman: The Movie at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Offical [1] Site